”Adopting a new liturgy is now urgent,” Jørgensen said, according to the Aftenbladet newspaper. ”This is something that applies to many in the church, and for some of us it is starting to be a matter of conscience.”

As things stand now, individual ministers will be permitted to say consecration prayers for married gay couples if they so choose.

Some 82 percent of Norwegians are members of the church, which is Lutheran, but only about 3 percent attend services regularly.

Rex Wockner